Caporegime
No, but it's incredibly underwhelming.
Anyone find London a bit overwhelming?
- Thread starter flibbage0
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Overwhelming… no. Sub-optimal, yes, IMO.
There is seemingly sOoOoOo mUcHhHh uncomfortable commuting.
Stayed at a friends at Monday, it still took 45 mins to get where I needed to go in the morning. Likewise, when ‘London friends’ visit ‘London friends’ it’s a massive jaunt.
You need a high tolerance for ‘busy travelling’. If you can get over that, it’s easily the most ‘happening’ place in the UK.
There is seemingly sOoOoOo mUcHhHh uncomfortable commuting.
Stayed at a friends at Monday, it still took 45 mins to get where I needed to go in the morning. Likewise, when ‘London friends’ visit ‘London friends’ it’s a massive jaunt.
You need a high tolerance for ‘busy travelling’. If you can get over that, it’s easily the most ‘happening’ place in the UK.
Soldato
Went in mid 70's to see Bob Dylon at Earls Court and thank god I haven't had to go since. (London that is)
Cannot even imagine. I'd never go to somewhere like Hong Kong. I think I'd just hide in my room rather than going out!
Soldato
My daughter lives in London and I get the vibrancy good jobs and things to do, especially if you have money, she's looking at near 1 mill for their 1st house though (just selling their flat) but absolutely loves the lifestyle, eating out theatre, comedy clubs ect ect ect
I prefer being out in the sticks tbh
I prefer being out in the sticks tbh
Soldato
The overwhelming and most obvious impression I always get that is quite jarring is the mix of poor and wealthy people, it's on extreme level and certainly my moral radar finds it uncomfortable.
We used to take the kids a lot, doing day trips/weekend trips and initially struggled with the hustle/bustle, when it's busy just finding somewhere for a bite to eat or find a toilet was difficult.. however we quickly learnt to avoid the obviously busy places, and a good example is there is a wetherspoons near Madam Tussauds (The Metropolitan Bar), this was great, you step in from a crazy amount of hustle/bustle and it's like stepping in to a different world, spacious and tranquil.. And normal wetherspoons prices, good toilets, a nice respite.. As soon as you step back outside you are instantly transported back to the normal craziness!
We used to love doing weekends there, staying in a travelodge on the outskirts that is near to a tube station and then getting day tickets to travel around.. you can get a lot done in 2 days, but it took 3 weekends in total to get all the main ones done!
I really like London. Everytime I visit there I think I could happily live there - if I was getting paid enough. I'd happily ditch the car and just rely on the tube etc.
Though it's easy to say when I only visit for a weekend once or twice a year. Probably feel different if I actually lived there
Though it's easy to say when I only visit for a weekend once or twice a year. Probably feel different if I actually lived there
Soldato
Lived there for many years. Was so happy to get out. Currently live in West Sussex so not in the sticks but everything is just so easier and better. I avoid London at all costs, hate going there when I have to.
Only visit occasionally for work and the thing that strikes me is the smell. You can taste the pollution in the air and for someone who has always lived near the countryside it is really noticeable.
I don't see the appeal of the place but then I'm happy walking in fields rather than busy streets.
I don't see the appeal of the place but then I'm happy walking in fields rather than busy streets.
I think what tourists have to remember is that Londoners spend their days working round the crowds, expense etc. There’s the obvious saying about avoiding walking down Oxford Street, but it goes for most main thoroughfares in central london. There’s always a route round the block that’s infinitely quieter and easier, for every main road.
All the other tricks add up as well.. Don’t leave the office bang on 5.30 or 6pm because the trains will be extra busy. Don’t try to meet your friend outside the tube station, find a pub round the corner. Learn what pubs have upstairs areas to sit in - although tbh standing outside in the street in Soho is one of those quintessential London things..
Don’t try to walk into a restaurant at 7pm on a Thursday. Good luck. Don’t turn up at the museum at 10am on a Saturday.. Don’t go to Liberties at 2pm on a Saturday and “grab a drink nearby after”. Don’t squash into that tube when there’s one 3mins later, or even better if there’s one 1min after that - you’ll probably get a seat. Move down the carriage and you’ll be able to stand in peace in between the seats.. Yet stand in the doorway of the carriage and you’ll be pushed past at every stop and squeezed into the wall and want to kill yourself.
Being a tourist is pretty exhausting in any city, I don’t think London is particularly different.. maybe besides the tube experience. Which on that note, although tourists should travel outside of commuting hours, I find it’s immensely easier to travel at commuting hours because everyone knows what they’re doing. Get on the Piccadilly line at 3pm in the afternoon in a Saturday and it’s infinitely more tedious with people doing all the wrong things.
All the other tricks add up as well.. Don’t leave the office bang on 5.30 or 6pm because the trains will be extra busy. Don’t try to meet your friend outside the tube station, find a pub round the corner. Learn what pubs have upstairs areas to sit in - although tbh standing outside in the street in Soho is one of those quintessential London things..
Don’t try to walk into a restaurant at 7pm on a Thursday. Good luck. Don’t turn up at the museum at 10am on a Saturday.. Don’t go to Liberties at 2pm on a Saturday and “grab a drink nearby after”. Don’t squash into that tube when there’s one 3mins later, or even better if there’s one 1min after that - you’ll probably get a seat. Move down the carriage and you’ll be able to stand in peace in between the seats.. Yet stand in the doorway of the carriage and you’ll be pushed past at every stop and squeezed into the wall and want to kill yourself.
Being a tourist is pretty exhausting in any city, I don’t think London is particularly different.. maybe besides the tube experience. Which on that note, although tourists should travel outside of commuting hours, I find it’s immensely easier to travel at commuting hours because everyone knows what they’re doing. Get on the Piccadilly line at 3pm in the afternoon in a Saturday and it’s infinitely more tedious with people doing all the wrong things.
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The new people are trash, the roads are trash, the quality of customer service is trash. Funny how much I saved since I stopped going out.
There are limited places to go late at night these days. I need a real 24 hour city, London isn’t that.
I really feel for people who are on a living wage or earning avg wage. I don’t know how they are able to live in London.
Don’t get me started on tax.
Man of Honour
I made the mistake of going to Hong Kong and Macau over the Tomb-Sweeping holiday in China. I have honestly never seen so many people.Cannot even imagine. I'd never go to somewhere like Hong Kong. I think I'd just hide in my room rather than going out!
Were they happy to see you.
Soldato
London is one of the best places on earth off peak. During the rush and weekends it's a hellish nightmare. The rent is also too damn high.
Caporegime
London is a skip.
I can raise you. This was a delivery in Park Royal a couple of months ago. I had to show my missus because she wouldn't believe me.
Everything in one picture. The smog in the air, the over crowdedness, the filth everywhere. That pile of rubbish has been there for months. The 25 minute journey time to go just 4 miles. The state of everything.
Everyone loves to think of the touristy bits etc but the vast majority of it is a dump like no other place I have visited in the country.
Do I find it overwhelming? No. I just feel disappointed as when I get on M1, A1 or M11 Northbound I instantly feel cleansed and you realise that London isn't even England anymore.
Manchester and Birmingham do not have the same effect on me that London does whilst both being also large cities.
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The most depressing part of going to London is catching the train in from the south and going past all the endless run down horrible looking apartment blocks.
That and going through Croydon.
The parks are quite nice (ie surrounding Kensington/Buckingham Palace/Regents), and parts of the West End and Hampstead are nice.
The rest is mostly a dump.
That and going through Croydon.
The parks are quite nice (ie surrounding Kensington/Buckingham Palace/Regents), and parts of the West End and Hampstead are nice.
The rest is mostly a dump.
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Caporegime
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If I was a multi millionaire then I could happily live there in one of the nice parts.
Other than that it's nice to visit for days/nights out.
I always seem to end up with loads of black bogeys the next day though so that says a lot about the air quality.
Other than that it's nice to visit for days/nights out.
I always seem to end up with loads of black bogeys the next day though so that says a lot about the air quality.
Caporegime
I only ever get black snot when using the tube, never get it when just out and about using buses/trains.
Not generally speaking but I'm not a fan of the super busy areas where you are blocked from walking normally outside. I have this kind of weird form of claustrophobia (not official / serious but the best way I can describe it) where I have no issue being in tight spaces, but I don't like being in places where I expect to be able to move freely, but can't (i.e. walking on the street). So being stood still in a lift/tube carriage surrounded by people = fine. Trying to walk on the street and having to shuffle along, being constantly blocked, having to weave in and out = stressful.
London is very big but the transport system means I have it sort of compartmentalised. Like you don't really have to consider the scale because there is a tube to take you anywhere at almost any time. So it's more like a collection of villages in a sense. I can't really explain it as it isn't logical, but travelling somewhere in London for 30mins on the tube feels like less of a journey than travelling 30mins between towns on a train, even though it might be less comfortable.
London is very big but the transport system means I have it sort of compartmentalised. Like you don't really have to consider the scale because there is a tube to take you anywhere at almost any time. So it's more like a collection of villages in a sense. I can't really explain it as it isn't logical, but travelling somewhere in London for 30mins on the tube feels like less of a journey than travelling 30mins between towns on a train, even though it might be less comfortable.